Line guide element for fishing rods and the like



April 4, 1950 w. M. HOFFMAN 2,502,345

LINE GUIDE ELEMENT FOR FISHING RODS AND THE LIKE Filed July 21, 1947 INVENTOR. 11 17 [i427]! 1Y0 flmvz BY q d/z/k Patented Apr. 4, 1 950 LINE GUIDE ELEMENT FOR FISHING RODS AND THE LIKE William M. Hoffman, Newark, N. J.

Application July 21, 1947, Serial No. 762,269

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved construction of line guide element for use on fishing rods and for other appropriate or analogous uses.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel construction of all metal line guide lement comprising an assembly of parts joined and interlocked together in such novel manner that necessity for employment of soldering, brazing or welding materials and operations is eliminated, and yet an exceedingly strong and practically unbreakable structure is assured.

The invention has for another object to provide an all metal line guide element which is free from sharp edges, the presence of which would involve risk of abrading a line moved therethrough with weakening effect thereupon and resultant risk of breaking.

A further object of the invention is to provide a line guide element comprising a minimum num ber of parts, each part being itself of novel form whereby it is individually reenforced against distortion, and said parts, when assembled, being so related and joined as to mutually reenforce each other against relative displacement, distortion or breakage.

Other objects of the invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view; Fig. 2 is an end elevational view, and Fig. 3 is a top elevational View of the novel line guide element according to the invention.

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the line guide element.

Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the line guide element, showing its parts in disassembled relation, said view being drawn on an enlarged scale.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the novel line guide element includes a pair of upstanding perforate plates [0 of generally circular shape. Each plate I0 is provided at its lower side with a tapered leg extension II which terminates in a longitudinally outward and substantially right angularly extend ing foot piece I2. Each plate II] is provided around its external periphery with an inwardly projecting annular flange I3 angular to the plane thereof. Said flange I3 is discontinuous so as to terminate at its respective ends in tapering flange extensions I4 which border the margins of the leg extension I I, and which merge into the margins of the foot piece l2 at the juncture of the latter with said leg extension -I I. Each plate It is also provided around its internal periphery, which defines the opening I5 thereof, with an inwardly projecting annular flange I6 angular to the plane thereof. Extending across the internal angle formed by the junction of the leg extension I I and the foot piece I2 is an oblique reenforcing rib I'I, whereby to reenforce said leg extension and foot piece against relative bending displacement. It will be observed that the provision of the flanges I3 and I6 will strongly stiffen and reenforce each plate l0 against distortion, so that each said plate provides a very rigid and individually strong structure.

Said plate structures are preferably made of non-corrosive sheet metal material, such e. g. as stainless steel, but it will be understood that the same may optionally be made of any other selected and suitable material.

Another component of the novel line guide element comprises a tubular eyelet member I8 which is initially formed at one end only with a curled or rolled external annular head or head I9. This eyelet member I8, is also made of non-corrosive metallic material, and preferably of stainless steel. The external diameter of the tubular body of said eyelet member I8 corresponds to the diameters of the openings I5 of the perforate plates [0, so as to be capable of being passed through the latter.

In assembling the above described component parts of the line guide element, the perforate plates II) are aligned with their flanged faces opposed, and then brought together in mutual contact with the margins of their flanges I3 and I6 abutted. When the perforate plates are thus assembled, the tubular eyelet member I8 is passed through the registered openings I5 thereof until the initially formed head or head I9 abuts the outer face of one said perforate plate I0, whereupon the free end of said tubular eyelet member I8, which protrudes beyond the outer face of the other said perforat plate I0, is curled or rolled to form a second external annular bead or head 20, which is driven home so as to tightly abut the face of said latter perforate plate It, whereby to draw the perforate plates I0 together in strongly united relation, thus completing the assembly which constitutes the novel line guide element.

The initially formed bead IQ of eyelet member I8 and also the second bead 20 formed in the assembly operation preferably have inturned edges, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. These bead edges are axially facing and so constructed and arranged that they are adapted to abut the outer faces of plates l along a circular line substantially midway between the external and internal angular flanges l3 and IS. The portions of beads l9 and 20 adjacent to the inturned edges are spaced frprn the outer plate faces and thereby deformable the assembly operation to insure close contact of the edges of said beads throughout their xtent with said plate faces. More tightly binding the contact of the eyelet member beads with the abutting plates will be effected than if the bead edges were disposed to face radially outward and if the beads were given the same shape as the outer plate faces for form-fitting contact of the broad surfaces as distinguished from the edge surfaces. Due to the hollow an-v nular form of the plates ID, the outer face por t er here a simila ly d f mab ts permit he ed e o be ds. 19 and o e t m m r l8 th ir t n con a t with s i ac por ions to place them under flexional tension. The result= ing unitary structure is therefore permanently tensioned for enduring rigid relationship of its component elements.

It will be noted that the tubular eyelet member I8 not only serves to rivet together the perforate plates [0 in rigid and strongly united relation, but also, by reason of the beads or heads [9 and 22, serves to further reenforce said plates against distortion. Furthermore, the tubular eyelet member 18 with its rounded curled or rolled bead or head portions l0 and 20, provides, by its endwi se open passage 21, the eye of the line guide element through which a line'desired to be guided thereby may be passed for movement bacl; and forth therethroug'h; and since the margins ofthe pe en s i eyelet mb r a a r defieetl b the u ed or r unded; sur ac s f th curled or rolled beads or heads 19. and 20, all sharp edges are eliminated, and conseguently all risk at a ree n or ether n ury an resul ant w ak.- enine q a l neserved y he g em t. i avoided.

Horn the above it will be, apparent that the av l ns r c o of l ne gui le en a9r.d ing to this invention isv of very strong and rigid hara and hat it com ne pa t on m t l sn ea the in eir assembled lati t t i ter o k d. s embled re a on thereof issuch that all necessity for useof solderts zin O Welding te l a o er tions inthe production thereof avoided.

Being, in the preferred form thereof above described, of all metal construction, the line guide element possesses no parts subject to fracture, loosening or becoming distorted or displaced, and consequently the element is therefore of such character as to assure a long life of efficient service in use.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A line guide element comprising a pair of upstanding perforate plates each having leg extensions, foot pieces respectively unitary with said respective leg extensions to extend angularly outward from ends thereof, each plate having an external rearwardly extending angular flange projecting from exterior peripheral portions thereof and an internal rearwardly extending angular flange projecting from the periphery of the opening thereof, said perforate plates being aligned back to back with said flanges opposed and abutted edgewise throughout their extent and the openings of said plates in register, and a tubular eyelet member extending through said registerecl openings of the plates, the respective ends of said eyelet member terminating in external annular beads respectively disposed to abut the outer faces of the respective plates, whereby to form therewith a rigid unitary guide element structure.

2. A line guide element as defined in claim 1, wherein the tubulareyelet member has its external annular bead so constructed and arranged as to provide axially inwardly facing edges adapted to abut the outer faces of the respective plates along a circular line substantially midway be tween the external and internal angular flanges of said plates, whereby deformable portions of the eyelet member beads adjacent to the edges thereof permit close biting contact of said edges throughout their extent with the deformable outer face portions of the respective plates.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

IT D STATE PAT NT Number Name. Date 387,545. Spruce et a1; Aug. '7, 18,88 576,110 Graves Feb. 2,1897: 934,414 Moran Sept 14, 1909 1,372,900 Olinger- Mar. 29, 1921 1,739,368: Monroe Dec. 10,1929 1,781,569 Cook- Nov; 11, 19:30 2,293,280 Covington Aug. 18, 1942 

